The KORG i3 is a full-featured Workstation featuring 61 full-size, velocity-sensing keys. The keyboard response is adjustable using the three touch-curves; a fourth setting provides a fixed output level. OCTAVE buttons shift the pitch of the keyboard up or down by two octaves, in octave increments. The professional joystick allows real-time articulation of pitch bend, vibrato, and brilliance during performance; an additional two-band EQ (Low and High) provides a final adjustment to the overall tone. All front panel buttons and controls are conveniently grouped together by function, and the custom backlit LCD delivers valuable visual feedback regarding the instrument’s current settings. A rotary data-wheel encoder can quickly edit the value of the onscreen parameters. The black-out finish, rubberized touch surface, and perforated end panels reflect the distinctive upscale design.
The i3 is endowed with decades of KORG sound design expertise. Inside you’ll find nearly 800 instrument sounds created with critical precision by master programmers and musicians. This includes a complete GM2 sound set, providing flawless General MIDI compatibility. Add to that another 59 custom Drum Kits, and you’re talking some serious sound.
The operation of the i3 distinguishes between the Sound Set, that is the sounds played in real time on the keyboard; and the Style Performance Set, that is the sounds and parts generated by the i3 to augment your performance. Calling up one of the 200 Sound Sets from memory can place up to four sounds on the keyboard at once; three layered across the upper keys, and one split to the lower keys. The high-fidelity PCM sound engine provides a generous 64 voices of polyphony. Two stereo effect processors – each with 173 variations – add motion, depth, and expression to each of these real-time sounds. Press the convenient Grand
You can actually have up to eight parts making up your backing track. Each of the 270 Styles contains four related Performance Set options; each one recalls a different set of backing sounds, just as each Sound Set offers four related options for the real-time keyboard parts you play yourself. Push buttons allow you to instantly select or mute any and all backing parts or real-time parts, and the volume of each part can be adjusted at will. As you get more familiar with the i3, you will find that backing sounds, grooves, and parts can be swapped or substituted from any Style Performance Set for a truly custom performance. Active backing parts will follow your chord changes and voice leading to create a personalized track to match your performance. If you need just a little more spark for your creative fire, the eight Chord Buttons can suggest and provide ready-made chords to keep your momentum moving forward.
Each Style is a complete song-creation environment, with ready-to-play sounds, parts, and chords – if needed. In addition, each Style includes four rhythmic variations, a count-in, a break, plus an intro and an ending. Just as with the real-time Sound Set parts, the Style Performance Set parts also can also access two independent stereo effect processors – each with 173 variations – to add motion, depth, and expression.
As with nearly all Workstations, the i3 sequencer can function as a track-by-track linear 16-track recorder in the Normal mode. Using the Backing Sequencer mode, the i3 can capture all Style Performance Set parts and all Sound Set parts in a single pass, placing each part on a separate track. In this way, an individual track may still be edited or replaced as you would in a normal sequence. Once recorded, your finished project can be exported as a MIDI data file. What really makes the i3 unique is the Performance Recording mode, where an entire performance generated and played on the i3 can be captured and recorded as audio data, and exported as an audio .WAV (44.1 kHz) file.
Features
- Full-featured Workstation
- 61 full-size, velocity-sensing keys
- Adjustable keyboard response
- Backlit LCD delivers valuable visual feedback
- Includes a complete GM2 sound set
- 64 voices of polyphony
- On-board effects and EQ
- Style Performance Sets generate sounds to fill in missing parts
- Up to eight parts to make up your backing track
- Active backing parts will follow your chord changes
- Save all settings into single Set List for instant recall
- Performance on the i3 can be recorded as audio data and exported
- Sequencer records, saves, and plays both MIDI and audio files
- 2x 1/4" outputs
- 1/8” stereo headphone output
- 1/8” audio input
- 1/4" jack for a foot controller
- MIDI Out
- 2x USB ports